Thomas towndkow



T. TOWNDROW. BooK BINDER.

No. 28,521. Patented May 29, 1860.

UNITED STATES 'PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS TOWNDROW, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BOOKBINDING.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,521, dated May 29, 1860.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS TowNDRoW, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Bookbinding; and I hereby declare the following to bea full and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specification.

The object of my said improvement is to produce a binding of durable and convenient character, adapted to admit of taking the book apart for the insertion or removal of leaves in any part, and particularly applicable to the binding of common-place, index and memorandum books, catalogues, pamphlets, sheet music and analogous uses.

In the accompanying drawings Figure l, is a perspective view of a complete book embodying my improvement. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the same as opened for the insert-ion or removal of leaves. Fig. 34,i`s a section at Fig. 1.

A and A represent narrow metallic plates, equal in length to the Width of the articles to be bound.

B are tubes projecting from one side of the plate A.

C, are pins projecting in corresponding positions from one side of the plate A and adapted to fit loosely in the tubes B.

The plates A and A are inca-sed in paste board and are connected to the covers D of the book, by leather, cloth or other covering in manner familiar to bookbinders, and so as to allow free motion to the covers without changing the position of the plates.

E, represents the leaves of the book.

F, is a band of gum elastic or other suitable material passed around the plates A and A as shown in Fig. 1, to hold the parts firmly in position. Cavitles to receive this band are formed in the ends of the plates A and A or in the pasteboard with which they are covered.

The operation is as follows. The articles to be bound being first perforated with a suitable punch are placed in position on the tubes B. The upper cover is then applied by inserting the pins C in the tubes B and the band F clasped around the whole as shown in Fig. l. When it is desired to insert or remove leaves at any part of the book the band is removed and the book being taken apart at the place desired one portion of it will remain upon the tubes B, While the other portion is held in position by the pins C, so as to be preserved from displacement. One or more leaves may then be placed upon or withdrawn from the tubes and the upper portion of the book restored to its position.

In cases where great accuracy of edge is required and the changes are expected to be frequent the holes of the exterior sheets are made of oval form with the larger diameter parallel to the back of the book, so as to accurately lit the tubes in one direction and at the same time permit the leaves to curve without tearing as they are drawn apart.

I claim as new and of my invention herein as an improvement in binding books.

The combination of the plates A and A, tubes B, and pins C, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

THOMAS TOWNDROW.

lVitnesses:

Ror. JACKSON. JOHN HOPPER. 

